"The Mom Stays in the Picture" Can I get an Amen?

I watched a show the other day featuring a mom who decided to get in the photos with her kids. She has spent years not wanting to get in the pictures for one reason or another. She decided that needed to stop. She wrote an article that landed in the Huffington Post. When I saw the video montage of her speaking about how she came to write the article, I felt just like her. The clincher in her article for me was: So when all is said and done, if I can't do it for myself, I want to do it for my kids. I want to be in the picture, to give them that visual memory of me. I want them to see how much I am here, how my body looks wrapped around them in a hug, how loved they are.

I find myself behind the camera because I love to take pictures. I love to see what appears after I click the button. But if I'm never in the pictures, how will my kids remember me? I don't want them to think of me as always behind the camera. I want them to see me in photos with them, flaws and all. The crooked smile God gave me, the pretty days, the bad hair days, whatever the look may be. It is me, spending time with them, loving them like a mom does. Making memories that I'll cherish longer than the few seconds it took to click the camera.

Lovin' these girls of mine!

A favorite!

Cheers to my boy!

 

 

See they love me!

 

Even with a goofy face!

 

A collage Whit put together from our photo booth pictures.

There are 9,000 of the kids, but I joined in the fun and I'm so glad I did.

How hilarious is the thumb over Whit?!!

 

Whoever is behind the camera the most in your family... get them out from behind the lens and let someone take over for a few pictures now and then. The pictures will be great and it will be worth having them in the pictures!!

 

With Kleenex in hand, I highly recomment reading the entire article at:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-tate/mom-pictures-with-kids_b_1926073.html

Fall with our Tree

The tree is looking so beautiful these days. The fall colors are so becoming on her! Though her day time look is amazing, I have chosen another night time look at her. On my way home from church the sky was so amazing, such vibrant colors. The sunsets God provides for us here in Colorado, none can compare. By the time I got back with my camera, it looked a little differently. I did notice that there was some serious smoke in the sky, thanks to a fire in Rocky Mountain National Park. Here she is...

Quite the glow. We are all done seeing smoke rising from our mountains.

Time for her close up.

A beauty.

 

Just to the right we see Horsetooth.

What a combination all in one fell swoop.

 

Happ Fall Ya'll!!

From me and my tree.

 

Job #12-00251‏

I just sent off the first official cover letter and resume since... I don't even know, before kids I'm sure. That means 14 years ago, plus the years at my last job... too long ago to count. I definitely look like I've been a stay-at-home mom, but that is ok. The site I sent it off to is geared towards those like me!

When I pushed the send button my heart beat a little faster. I got nervous. I think it looked good, I might even get a call. Then the thought crossed my mind, An interview. Sending a resume was scary enough, I might need medication for an interview. I'm getting ahead of myself, relax.

I went to my email and I already received this:

Dear Candidate,

This message is to acknowledge receipt of your resume.
We greatly appreciate your interest in the position.
Your resume will be considered for our current and future opportunities.
Thank you.
 
Wish me luck, say a prayer and maybe I'll get a call. Funny to feel giddy about something like this after so long. Feels good to push myself like this.

Why I love Fall...

Closing the Gap

This Spring Whitney got braces and an expander. Poor her! A few weeks later she had a gap between her two front teeth. "Wow, it is really doing it's job," said her 12 year old orthodontist. Good! Then the gap grew, and grew, and grew. I was worried. Again, I was reassured it was doing it's job. Once the cranking stopped I felt good that it would soon close.

When the gap was at it's peek I told Whit, "Wow, you could drive a truck through that gap." Probably not the words I should have chosen. I tried to redeem myself and I said, "Soon it will be a VW Bug." Ugh, nice try. "Then it will be a bike and then a dead end," says wise ol' Whitney. A couple weeks ago she got what the ortho called a double-power chain put on her two front teeth and guess who texted me from a sleepover with, "It's a dead end!"?

Take a look at the evidence...

This is Whitney's Instagram handy work! Look at the huge difference.

She is closing the gap on becoming a beautiful young woman, as well as becoming a teenager soon than later. But we can wait for that!

Crunchy PB&J

Our family loves the show The Next Food Network Star. It airs in the summer and has become a fun tradition for all of us... even the boys in our family. 2011's winner was Jeff Mauro, known as The Sandwich King. For some reason I decided to record his show last week and I found the craziest recipe... Crunchy Fried PB&J. I realize I neglected to put the word fried in my title, that must have been on purpose... I am terrible at frying and really, it isn't fried.

The title of this episode was "Sweet and Yummy Dessert Sandwiches". He started the show by making a turtle caramel cookie ice cream sandwich, the size of my head. Then he made the PB&J and then... he says "wash it down with a decadent chocolate cake shake, and you'll be ready for a nap." Or cardiac arrest, one or the other.

Whitney and Tennison saw the PB&J being made and voted I make it! It has been 3 days and I'm still stuffed to the rim. Notice I served it with a big ol' fruit salad. It will make you feel more balanced.

It is a little tough to see the layers, but there is crunchy peanut butter, bananas, potato chips with ridges, and raspberry preserves. The coating? Sweet mother! Crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Yes, download it now!! I dare ya!!  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jeff-mauro/crunchy-fried-pb-and-j-recipe/index.html



Homecoming 2012

Again I am struck with the idea that life is flying on past. My oldest went to homecoming and had a great time!! Here is a peek into the evening she had...

Reagan went outside for a couple pictures before getting completely ready!

 

Let the primping begin!!

Time for everyone to take their places for a ton of photo-taking!

Mykaila, Reagan, Hope and Bree.

 

When the picture taking ended, none too soon for the girls,

they had some pre-dance food to enjoy!

Cheers!

11:15 p.m. ~ they still look so pretty after nearly 3 hours of dancing fun!

Then they fell into bed with smiles on their face I'm sure.